Use of a vital dye for facilitating surgical procedures for cataract extraction

Abstract

Methods for performing a capsulorhexis are disclosed wherein a dye is used to stain a lens capsule of an eye. The dye is capable of staining tissue without diffusing through the tissue. Compositions including dyes that are useful in the methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for performing a capsulorhexis, comprising the steps of: 
       surgically opening an eye;  
       aspirating an ocular fluid from the eye;  
       filling an anterior chamber of the eye with air;  
       applying trypan blue onto an outer surface of a lens capsule;  
       producing a selectively stained lens capsule without substantially staining intraocular structures compared to the stained lens capsule;  
       visually distinguishing the selectively stained lens capsule from underlying lenticular material while surgically opening the lens capsule; and  
       surgically removing lens substance.  
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the lens capsule is the anterior lens capsule. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is part of a surgical procedure for cataract extraction. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the trypan blue is added directly to the anterior lens capsule. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the trypan blue comprises a physiologically compatible solution including salt between 0.8% and 1.0% by weight. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the salt is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, sodium phosphate, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein trypan blue is applied onto a posterior lens capsule. 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the trypan blue is added directly to the posterior lens capsule.